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Cornell University

Winter Parking and Transportation Information

McGraw Tower in snow with berries in foreground

Winter Parking Holiday

Parking permit and payment requirements are suspended from December 22nd through January 1st. Parking compliance regulations resume on January 2.

Winter Overnight Parking Regulations

On-campus overnight parking is restricted to designated areas from December 1 to April 1 when it is snowing, or when snow is forecast, to facilitate plowing and snow removal. These specially signed areas are open between 5 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to all vehicles registered with Transportation Services. See Cornell’s Winter and Break Parking Rules for designated overnight parking areas.

In addition, the City of Ithaca enforces on-street odd-even parking rules from November 1 to April 1, when snow removal is necessary. Consult Which Side to Park for up-to-date on-street parking information.

Snow Removal and Safety

If you arrive on campus after significant snowfall and your parking lot has not been plowed, Transportation Services recommends parking in either A Lot (North Campus) or B Lot (Vet College). These large lots are the first to be cleared. Take note that some campus paths and spaces within parking lots will not be plowed. These areas are clearly signed and should be avoided.

When walking on snowy or icy surfaces is unavoidable, Walk Like a Penguin to prevent slips and falls.

If you observe a winter safety issue anywhere on campus, call 607-254-COLD (2653) to report it and get it fixed.

TCAT Bus Updates

You can use TCAT's Bus Tracker to get updates on detours or delays when bad weather strikes, or track the status of a bus by downloading one of the apps available at https://tcatbus.com/ride/apps/.

To learn more about winter weather readiness, and to stay informed of events that impact university operations, visit https://emergency.cornell.edu/.